Receptacle for matches, toothpicks, or the like.



B. MILLER & A. S. SCHENKER.

RECEPTACLE FOR MATCHES, TOOTHPICKS, OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-T, l9l4.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

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RECEPTACLE FOR MATCHES, TOOTHPICKS, OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, I914.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916,

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B 5718:! may in small quantities .be held in such a BARNET MILLER ANDABRAHAM S. SCHENKER, OF NEW YORK, n. Y.

RECEPTACLE FOB, MATCHES, TOOTHPICKS, OR. THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Application filed August 7, 1914. Serial No. 855,579.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BARNET MILLER and ABRAHAM S. Senna KER, citizens ofthe United States, resid tug at New York, in the county of New York andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inReceptacles for Matches, Toothpicks, ,or the like, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to the general class of receptacles for matches,toothpicks or the l kc, and consists mainly in a closed casing fromwhich the articles can be removed only in small quantities principallyone at a time.

It is desirable that receptacles containing matches, toothpicks or thelike be malntained closed to prevent spilling of the same or for otherpurposes; and it is particularly desirable that the handling of a supplyof toothpicks be prevented thereby to preserve them in sanitarycondition.

To this end, the main object of this invention is to provide areceptacle, access to which is denied to the general user, and whichreceptacle will only be opened to supply the same when its contents havebeen exhausted.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a closed receptaclefrom which the contained articles can be removed only or one at a time.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an outlet for suchclosed receptacle that is completely concealed from the user so as toprevent tampering therewith.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanicaldischarge means I so that the fingers of the user will not in any waycome in contact with the articles used remaining in such receptacle.

- A still further object of the invention is to provide such aconstruction of receptacle whereby an auxiliary receptacle for relatedmatter can be formed integral with the main receptacle. And a furtherobject of the invention is to provide a discharging means whereby thearticles when discharged will position that the user can easily graspthe same.

A particular feature of the present embodiments of the invention is theconstruction in which all four walls of the receptacle and certainadjacent parts are composed and stamped out of one integral piece ofsheet metal.

forward end and said front wall.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the inventionwill appear from the subjoined deta led description of specificembodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichFigure 1 is a perspective showing one embodiment of the invention. Fig.2 is an axial section of the modification shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aperspective of an embodiment equipped with an auxiliary receptacle forcigar ashes and the like. Fig. a is a perspective of the slide detached;and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in cross section showing the positionof the slide relative to the i floor of the receptacle when articles arebe ing received by said Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a portion of thecover for said receptacles, showing the means for securing the cover inplace.

As illustrated the receptacles are preferably composed and stamped outof sheet metal. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. l a receptacle isshown which is particularly adapted for containing a supply oftoothpicks which receptacle comprises essentially four walls, two sidewalls, 1, 1, a front wall, 2, and a rear wall 3, preferably composed ofone continuous strip of sheet metal, the two meeting ends of which areflanged, which flanges are bent upon one another to form the joint 4.The upper end of the front wall 2 continues into a tongue narrowing intoan upwardly directed portion 5 then bent back upon itself to form adownwardly directed portion 6 which serves as a partition between thetoothpick-containing chamber and the slide passage about to bedescribed, and widens as it approaches its base, which base is securedto the side walls 1, 1 by solder or the like. The portions 5 and 6 asillustrated are suitably spaced apart to form a slide passage 7. To formthe article or toothpick-containing chamber, there is provided aninclined floor member 8 secured between the two side walls 1, 1, and therear wall 3, the rear edge of the floor member being illustrated asstarting from the upper edge of the rear wall 3 and inclining downwardlyin a forward direction terminating, just rearwardly of the front wall 2to form a passage between its The side edges of the floor member'S areillustrated as secured to the side walls 1, 1 by solder or the like. Thefront edge of the floor member 8 terminatesa distance from. the frontslide from said floor;

- shown as integral therewith,

wall 2 equal to the distance the portions 5 and 6 are spaced from oneanother. Just rearwardly of the portion 6 is provided a partition 9which is secured by and between the walls 1, 1 by solder or the like,which partition is preferably parallel to the front wall 2 and extendsfrom a line in a plane with the upper edges of the walls 1, 1 down to aline which is spaced apart from the floor member 8,adistance equalapproximately to th'e'thicknessof a toothpick. This partition isprovided to permitbut a-small number of toothpicks to be fed to thedischarging means preferably one at a time. Just rearwardly of the frontWall 2 and extending in a plane with the portion 6 there are providedtwo plates 10, 10 both extending down, from the front edge of the floormember 8 and extending "substantially tothe lower edge of the walls1, 1. The outer edges of these plates 10, 10 are illustrated as securedto the walls 1, 1 by solder or the like. The inner edges of the plates10, 10 are parallel with one another and form a medial slot 11. In theslide passage formed between the portions 5 and 6 and the plates 10, 10and the front wall 2, there is provided a discharge slide 12 which alsoserves as a door for closing the toothpick-containing chamberillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and shown as having a lower wide portionsubstantially the width of the front ward direction as illustrated.

groove,

wall and an upper portion 13 gradually diminishing in width and of suchform that when the slide is in its uppermost position, its upper narrowportion 13 will conform to thetongue formed by the portions 5 and 6while its lower wide portion will serve to properly guide the slide insaid slide passage. Medially and vertically of the front wall 2, thereis provided a slot 14 to accommodate a projection 15 secured to thefront wall of the slide 12. On the front end of the projection '15 whichextends out forwardly of the front wall 2 is formed a nger-engagingbutton 16, by means of which the slide 12 can be moved in said slidepassage. The slideis normally maintained in its uppermost position byany suitable means in the present instance shown as a fiat spring 17which is secured at its rear end to the floor member 8 and at its frontend to the lower edge ofthe slide 12, said spring 17 exercising atension on said slide in an up- The upward portion of the slide 12 isprovided with a groove 18 extending in a line parallel with the loweredge of the floor 8 and positioned a short distance from the upper edgeof the slide 12. This groove is so disposed that when'the slide is inits lowermost position, that is when the button 16 is depressed, thefront edge of the floor 8 will be in position to discharge into suchdiminishing The operation is as follows: A supply of toothpicks isplaced on the floor 8 which are fed preferably one at a time underneaththe partition 9 and will be in position so that when the button 16 isdepressed to lower the slide into its lowermost position, a toothpickwill be discharged into and received by a groove 18 and then when thebutton 1s released the spring 17 will raise the slide 11 which will,carry the discharged toothpick up with it, the ends of whichtoothpick'will, as illustrated in Fig. 1 project from the sides of theslide and the portions 5 and 6 of the tongue in which position thetoothpick can easily be removed by the user. V

The toothpick compartment is provided with a cover 19 which may belocked or otherwise securely closed by any suitable means, in thepresent instance, spring clamping members 20 being provided which engagethe sides of the walls 1, 1 and thereby frictionally hold the cover inplace. 1'

The upper portion of the slide 12 is tapered to a sharp edge, and thetongue formed by the portions 5 and 6 has a corresponding taperingportion to accommodate the upper end of the slide 12. This tapered endserves to deflect the articles not received in said groove out of thepath of movement of said slide.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3 a construction is illustratedwhich is-particularly adapted for a match receptacle, is otherwisedifferent from the modification shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in certaindetails of construction, and which comprises essentially two side walls22, a rear wall 23 and a front wall 24 which bodiment illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2 are composed of and stamped out of one integral piece ofsheet metal and fastened together by a joint 25, similar to the joint 4.The front wall 24 of this embodiment has its main portion extended uponly partway the height of the side walls 22, 22 and hasan upwardlyextending narrowingtongue 28.

four walls, similar to the em-' a gradually narrowside slots along thesides of the tongue 28.

The front portions of the side walls 22, 22 have curved cutaway portions29 which begin at their front edges at a level with the upper ends ofthe side edges of thefront wall 24 and terminate in These curved cutawayportions have their edges secured to a curved wall 30 extending acrossthe same and formingthe front wall forthe match containing compartment,the

upper edge of said curved wall lying in a plane with the upper edges ofthe side walls their upper edges.

23, and at substantially the upper edge of said side walls 22, 22, beingsecured at its side edges to the side walls 22 and extending forwardlyin a downward direction to a line substantially in the plane of theportion 27. Secured to the upper portion of the curved'wall 30 is apartition 32 which extends from one side wall 22 to the other and downto a line which is spaced apart from said fioor'member 31, a distancesufficient to permit but a small quantity of matches to pass underneaththe partition 32, preferably one at a time. In the slide passage formedbetween the front wall 24:, and portion 27 is provided a slide 33 whichhas lower wide portion and an upper narrow portion similar to the slide12 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and which also is normally maintained in araised position by a spring similar to spring 17. In the front wall 24is provided a slot 34 extending parallel with, and equidistant from, theside walls 22, 22 through which slot protrudes a projection 35 formed onthe slide 33 which has a finger engaging button 36 by means of which theslide 33 may be actuated. Near the upper end of the slide 33 is formed agroove extending parallel to the front edge of the floor member 31 andso disposed that when the slide is in its lowermost position said groovecan cooperate with said floor to receive a match therefrom upon thedepression of said slide 33 by the button 36 so that when said button isreleased and said slide is raised, the match will be carried with it andcan be removed by the user through the curved slots where the match willbe exposed whenthe slide 33 is in raised position. Between the upperrear edge of the floor member 31, the rear wall 23 and side walls 22, 22between such upper rear edges, is formed a hopper member 38 forming theinlet to an auxiliary receptacle for cigar ashes, burnt matches or thelike. The rear wall of this hopper member is the continuation of therear wall 23 extending upward and inclining rearwardly, the side wallsof the same extend upwardand inclining outward from said side walls 22,22, and the front wall is the continuation of the floor member 31extending upward therefrom and inclining forwardly, the edges of whichhopper wa are suitably secured to one another. The lower edges of theside walls 22 are preferably provided with flanges 39 extending inwardlyand formed integral with said side walls illustrated as extending onlypart-way the length of said side walls beginning at the rear endthereof. The rear wall 23 terminates a suitable distance from the loweredges adjacent to said exit, said lls of the side walls 22, 22 to forman entrance for a receiving means such as the tray 40 illustrated inFig. 3 which has a suitable floor, side walls, front wall and anenlarged rear wall 41 to form abutting flanges whereby the movement ofsaid tray into said receptacle is limited. The flanges 39 form a supporting means for said tray. Similar to the modification shown in Figs.1 and 2 a cover 12 is provided for the match compartment formed abovethe floor member 31 which may be locked in closed position by meanssimilar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and the upper end of the slide33 is tapered being highest at its forward front end, and the tongueformed by the portions 26 and 27 forms a corresponding tapering portionto accommodate the upper end of the slide 33.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in thedetails of the box construction without affecting and departing from thegeneral scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A device of the class described having a compartment for toothpicks,matches or the like, there being an exit from said compartment,adischarging means positioned adjacent to said exit, said dischargingmeans comprising a slide vertically movable, the upper portion of saidslide being narrower than the length of the articles to be discharged,said upper portion being adapted to receive the articles to bedischarged and permit the ends of such articles from said slide, meansfor actuating said slide into discharging j osition where either of theends of the articles can be grasped by the user and the articles thusremoved, and a casing. conforming to said slide mounted on saidcompartment to receive said slide when disposed in its raised position,said casing being open on both sides to permit the ends of the articlesdischarged to extend therethrough. I

2. A device of the class described having a compartment for toothpicks,matches or the like, therebeing an exit from said compartment, adischarging means positioned discharging means comprising a slidevertically movable, the upper portion of said slide being narrower thanthe length of the articles to be discharged and having a grooveextending transversely of said narrow portion and o the path of movementof said slide, said groove being adapted to receive the articles to bedischarged and permit the ends of such articles to protrude from saidslide, means for actuating said slide into discharging position whereeither of the ends of the articles can be grasped by the user and thearti cles thus removed, and a casing conforming to said slide mounted onsaid compartment to receivefiaid, Slide when disposed in its to protrudeher,

raised position, said casing being open on bothsides to permit the endsof the article discharged to extend therethrough.

3. A device of the class described having a compartment for toothpicks,matches or the like, a wall member, a floor in said compartment thefront end of which is spaced apart from said wall member, a partitiondisposed above the front edge of said floor to form an opening betweenit and the floor to permit articles to pass therethrough to the rear ofsaid wall member,- a slide movably mounted between said wall member andsaid partition and floor, there being a groove in the upper end of saidslide toreceive articles from said floor when said slide is in its lowerposition, means for normally maintaining said slide in raised positionand returning said slide into raised position after it has been actuatedinto lower position, and a casing formed by the continuations of saidpartition and wall member and conforming to said slide,said casing beingmounted on said compartment to receive said slide when disposed in itsraised position and being open on both sides to permit the endsof thearticle discharged to extend therethrough.

4. A device of the class described having a compartment toothpiclrs,matches or the like a wall member a floor in, said compartment the frontend of which is spaced apart from said wall membeiga partition disposedabove the front edge of said floor to form an opening between it and thefloor to permit articles to pass therethrough and disposed to the rearof said wall member, a slide movably mounted between said wall memberand said partition and floor and adapted to receive articles from saidfloor when said slide is in its lower position, means for normallymaintaining said slide in raised position and returning said slide intoraised position after it has been actuated' into lower position, meansfor lowering said slide, and a casing formed by the continuations ofsaid partition and said wall member and conforming to said slide, saidcasing being mounted on said compartment to receive said slide whendisposed in its raised position and being open on both sides to permitthe ends of the article discharged to extend therethrough.

5. A device'of the class described having a compartment for toothpicks,matches or thelike, a wall member, a floor in said compartment the frontend of which is spaced apart from the front end of said wall-mema slidemovably mounted along said wall member and in front of said floor, thereeing a groove on the per end of said slide to receive articles from saidfloor when, said slide is in its lower position, means for actuatingsaid slide into raised or discharging position where the ar- 7 housinginclosing the floor of sides formed by said partition wall extendingproper with said partition, said front wall rear side of the upgroovevcan be resecured tosaid projection whereby said slide may be lowered,and a casing conforming to said slide, the front wall of which isthecontinuation of said wall member,- said casing being mounted on saidcompartment to receive said slide when disposed in its raised positionand being open ,on"both'si des to permit the ends of the articledischargedto extend therethrough. c

6. A device of the class described'having a V the compartment for asupply of tcothpiclrs or thelilre, an inclined oor intermediate saidhousing and forming said compartment, a partition at one'end of saidhousing the lower end of which terminates a short distance above thelower end of said floor to form an opening said housing, thecontinuation of said front wall extending upward above said housingproper with said partition, said front wall and partition being unitedat their-supper ends and open attheir sides, slide r-eciprocatinglymounted between said partition and front wall, and spring having'on'eend secured -tothe lower side of said floor and the other endsecured inraised position, said partition and front wall conforming to said slideand all three such articles will protrude through the'open wall whencarried by said slide and said slide is disposed in its elevatedposition.

'A device of the class described having a housing inclosing thecompartment for a supply of tocthpicks or the like, an inclinedoor'intermediate said housing and forming the 001* of said compartment,a partition at one end of said housing "the lower endof which terminatesa short distanceabove the lower end of saidfloor to form an openingbetween it and the floor topermit the articles moving down saidinc-lined floor to pass .out of said compartment, said partition eX-tending above said housing, the continuation of said front upward abovesaid housing and partition being ends slide reciprocatingly mountedbetween said partition and front wall, an actuating spring having oneend secured to the lower side of ilnited at their upper sa d floor andthe otherend secured to said a discharging said housing, a front wallfor an actuating .100 to said slideto normally maintain said slide 7 andfront l and open at their sides, a discharging slide to normallymaintain said slide in raised position, said partition and front Wallconforming to said slide and all three being narrower at their upperends than the articles to be discharged so that the ends of sucharticles will protrude through the open sides formed by said partitionand front Wall when carried by said slide and said slide is disposed inits elevated position, there being ARNET MILLER. ABRAHAM S. SGHENKER.Witnesses:

HAROLD D. PENNEY, JOSEPH F. V. CHRISTOPHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

